Backend Developer salary in San Francisco, CA
Based on 189 certified H-1B filings in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes San Mateo, South San Francisco, Fremont, Redwood City, Pleasanton.
Median salary$190,000
Middle 50%$169k–$220k
vs. national median+18%comparison median $161,568
Filings189FY2025–FY2026 · latest two fiscal years
Salary range
National median
$100k$125k$150k$175k$200k$225k$250k$275k
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $145,720 |
| 25th | $169,000 |
| 50th (median) | $190,000 |
| 75th | $220,000 |
| 90th | $250,000 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $155,000 | $132,000 | $170,000 | 135 |
| FY2021 | $167,710 | $130,894 | $180,000 | 157 |
| FY2022 | $165,000 | $146,000 | $193,000 | 157 |
| FY2023 | $180,000 | $158,080 | $192,941 | 113 |
| FY2024 | $184,662 | $158,825 | $206,315 | 95 |
| FY2025 | $187,200 | $171,000 | $217,500 | 95 |
| FY2026 | $194,000 | $168,000 | $223,750 | 94 |
Cost of living
San Francisco's median Backend Developer salary of $190,000 is worth about $164,300 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; San Francisco = 115.6).
Top employers filing
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Stripe | $180,960 | 11 |
| Included Health | too few | 8 |
| Infinitus Systems | too few | 8 |
| Motive Technologies | too few | 6 |
| Roblox | too few | 5 |
| Character Technologies | too few | 4 |
| Plaud | too few | 4 |
| Ramp Business | too few | 4 |
| Snorkel AI | too few | 4 |
| Verkada | too few | 4 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $135,700 | 33 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $170,000 | 44 |
| Senior · Level III | $199,000 | 58 |
| Expert · Level IV | $225,000 | 49 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.